christopher



sae-lila Unted States Patent TOY GUN John W. Christopher, Lexington, Ky.

Application January 27, 1954, Serial No. 406,470

9 Claims. (Cl. 46-228) My invention relates to a toy gun. It has to do, more particularly, with a gun which does not actually tire a projectile, but in which the movement and discharge of a projectile is simulated.

Many attempts have been made to provide toy guns with projectiles of such a nature that they could be discharged with safety. However, any gun discharging a projectile inherently cannot be completely safe. Therefore, toy guns have been provided which do not discharge projectiles, but in which noisemakers and sparkers are incorporated in an attempt to obtain realism.

It is the main object of my invention to provide a gun in which the movement and discharge of a projectile s simulated with realism without actually using a projectile, the gun, therefore, being completely safe even though it is realistic.

Another object of my invention is to provide a gun of the type indicated above wherein the desired effect is obtained with simple and inexpensive means.

Various other objects of my invention will be apparent.

According to my invention, I provide a gun with a barrel which is translucent throughout its length or which has a translucent window throughout its length. In this barrel, I provide a small lightbulb with means for moving it along the barrel. Trigger mechanism is provided on the gun for actuating the means for moving the bulb to cause it to move at a high rate of speed from the rear end of the barrel to the muzzle end thereof and for simultaneously lighting the bulb so as to simulate the movement of a projectile along the barrel and the discharge of a projectile from the muzzle.

In the accompanying drawing, I have illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention and in this drawing:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view through a pistol type toy gun in which my invention is embodied.

Figure 2 is a plan view, partly broken away, of the gun of Figure 1.

Figure 3 shows a modification of the barrel of the gun in which the barrel is opaque but is provided with translucent windows or slots at the sides thereof.

With reference to the drawing, I have illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 one form which a gun may take according to my invention. The gun is, for example, in the form of a pistol and may be made entirely of plastic. The gun includes the handle and the barrel 11, the barrel preferably being translucent, although it could be transparent.

Mounted for movement longitudinally of the barrel is a translucent or transparent light housing 12 which may also be of plastic and which has mounted therein a light bulb 13. A guide channel 14 is formed longitudinally in the barrel by one wall of the barrel and a longitudinally extending partition 15. The light housing 12 is moved back and forth along the barrel by means of a pair of springs 16 and 17. The spring 16 is a relatively weak large diameter coil spring and its forward end is anchored to the housing 12 and is in electrical contact 2,734,311 Patented Feb. 14, 1956 F ICC with the socket of the bulb 13. The rear end of the spring 16 is anchored to and coiled around the flange of a drum 18a. This drum is keyed on a shaft 18b` which is rotatably mounted on the gun. Also keyed on the shaft 18b is the pinion 18.

The front end of the spring 17 is anchored to the light housing 12 and passes downwardly through an opening 19, in the partition 15, around an idler pulley 20 and rearwardly through the barrel to a point at the rear portion of the barrel where it is anchored to the body of the gun by an anchoring pin 21, it being noted that the spring is coiled around this pin. This spring 17 is a relatively strong small diameter coil spring. Both springs 16 and 17 are preferably made of metal, such as brass, which not only has the desired elasticity, but also the desired electrical conductivity.

For rotating the pinion 18 and, therefore, the drum 18a, an arcuate rack 22 is provided which meshes with the pinion and which is formed as a part of the hammer 23 of the trigger mechanism. This hammer 23 is pivoted in the handle 10 at 24 and extends rearwardly through a slot 25, formed in the rear side of the handle, being provided with an upwardly and rearwardly extending thumb rest 26 which can be used in helping to cock the gun.

The hammer 23 is actuated by the usual trigger 27 which is mounted on a pin 28 by means of a slot 29. The trigger is provided with a rearwardly extending ear 30 which is adapted to be moved into engagement with an ear 31 on the lower and forward end of the hammer. Spring 46 normally keeps the trigger 27 in the position shown in Figure 1. When the trigger 27 is pulled, however, the ear 30 engages the ear 31 of the hammer swinging the hammer 23 rearwardly until the ear 30 slips off the ear 31, which will allow the hammer to be pulled forwardly. Pulling the trigger 27 towards the right (Figure l) causes the hammer 23 and hammer rack 22 to move clockwise. This rotates the pinion 18 to cause the spring 16 to wind up in a clockwise direction on the drum 18a. This moves the lamp housing 12 towards the right or rearwardly of the barrel. This causes tightening of the spring 17 around the pin 21 or, in other words, causes the spring 17 to be stressed. When the hammer 23 is released by the trigger and moves counterclockwise or forwardly, the spring 16 unwinds and the lamp housing 12 will be pulled forwardly through the barrel by the spring 17 which has been previously stressed. The speed of movement of the housing 12 forwardly through the barrel 11 can be controlled by the governor 32 associated with the spring 16. This quick movement simulates the travel of a projectile through the barrel.

The governor includes a pinion 32a which is provided with an oli-center weight and which is rotatably mounted in xed position on the gun. This pinion engages an idler pinion 32b which is carried by a shaft 32C that is mounted for limited upward and forward movement in a slot 32d formed in the wall of the gun. The pinion 32h engages the ring gear 18c formed on the drum 18a and the pinion 32b normally is cradled between pinion 32a and gear 18e which are so located relatively and relative to slot 32d that gravity will tend to keep them in engagement. However, as soon as the gun is cocked, the pinion 32h will be disengaged from the timer or off-center pinion 32a but when the gear 18e is again rotated counterclockwise, the gears will again be engaged and the governor Will function to slow down the forward movement of the light housing 12.

At the same time the lamp housing 12 travels forwardly through the barrel, it is lighted (Figure 2). The

means for accomplishing this will now be described. As-

sociated with a heel 35 extending rearwardly and downwardly from the hammer 23 is a contact spring 36 which is anchored in the handle at 37. This spring has a straight part normally spaced from a stop pin 38 and a curved outer end portion 39. A contact spring 40 extends from the battery 41 in the lower part of the handle and extends forwardly and upwardly of a stop pin 42. The upper end of this spring 40 is adapted to be engaged by the inner end of a plastic plunger 43, the outer end of which is engaged by the trigger 27 when it is pulled. The spring contact 36 is electrically connected by a wire 44 to the spring 16. The spring 17 is electrically connected by a wire 45 to the battery 41.

Before the trigger 27 is pulled, the various parts of the gun are as shown in Figure 1, with the circuit to the lamp 13 broken because contact springs 36 and 40 are not in engagement. However, when the trigger 27 is pulled rearwardly in its initial movement, the hammer 23 swings rearwardly, the heel 35 moves forwardly and allows the spring 36 to swing forwardly to engage the stop pin 38 but will not yet permit the end 39 of the spring to contact the spring 40. As the trigger 27 is moved further rearwardly, it causes the plunger 43 to slide inwardly and force the upper end of the spring 40 into contact with the curved portion 39 and the lamp 13 lights as it goes forwardly through the barrel which is happening at this period in the movement of the trigger 27 since the ear 30 of the trigger has snapped oi the ear 3l of the hammer, allowing the hammer to be pulled forwardly by the action of the springs 16 and 17. At this time the circuit is from the battery 41, through the spring 40, through the contacting spring 36, the wire 44, through the spring 16 through the lamp and the spring 17, and through the wire 45 to the battery 41. The circuit is broken as the ring cycle is completed since the hammer heel 35 moves the spring end 39 away from the spring 40, as the hammer 23 swings forwardly, even if the trigger 27 and the plunger 43 are still in their rearwardmost positions, but at this time the lamp housing 12 will have completed its forward movement. Plunger 43 is made of non-conducting material.

In Figure 3, I have illustrated that instead of the barrel being translucent, it may have a window 11a of transparent material, or it could be an open slot, which extends substantially the full length of the barrel.

It will be apparent from the above that I have provided a gun in which the movement and discharge of a projectile is simulated realistically but the gun is completely safe. The desired realistic effect is obtained with simple and inexpensive means.

Various other advantages will be apparent.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A toy gun comprising a barrel through which light is visible, an electric lamp mounted for longitudinal movement in the barrel, a source of current for the lamp, spring means connected to the lamp for controlling its movement through the barrel, a trigger, means for connccting the spring means to the trigger so that as the trigger is pulled the spring means is first stressed to pull the lamp rearwardly of the barrel and is then released to permit the spring means to propel the lamp forwardly of the barrel, contact means for connecting the source of current to the lamp, said contact means being operated by pulling the trigger to light the lamp during its forward movement, said spring means comprising a coil spring connected to the lamp for moving it forwardly and a coil spring connected to the lamp for moving it rearwardly, and means actuated by the trigger for first stressing the springs and then releasing them.

2. A toy gun according to claim 1 in which the rst spring is a coil spring which is anchored to the gun and is stressed upon rearward movement of the lamp, and the second spring is a coil spring which is weaker and is anchored to a drum upon which it is coiled, said means actuated by the trigger comprising means for winding up the spring on the drum to move the lamp rearwardly of the barrel and then release the drum to permit the springs to move the lamp forwardly.

3. A toy gun according to claim 2 wherein said lastnamed means comprises a hammer geared to a shaft which carries the drum, and an operative connection between the trigger and the hammer which causes the hammer to first rotate the shaft to wind up the second spring and then to release it.

4. A toy gun according to claim 3 wherein a governor is geared to the drum for controlling the speed of rotation of the drum as the spring thereon unwinds and is disengaged from the drum as it is rotated in a direction to wind the spring thereon.

5. A toy gun according to claim 3 wherein the contact means comprises a spring biased switch, and means for closing the switch contacts in successive steps upon pulling of the trigger, said means disengaging the switch contacts before the trigger is released.

6. A toy gun according to claim 5 wherein said last named means includes a heel on the hammer which engages one switch contact, and a plunger actuated by the trigger which engages the other switch contact.

7. A toy gun comprising a barrel through which light is visible, an electric lamp mounted for longitudinal movement in the barrel, a source of current for the lamp, means for moving the electric lamp quickly forwardly in the barrel while simultaneously connecting it to the source of current to simulate the movement in and discharge of a projectile from the barrel, said means comprising a trigger, means for connecting the trigger to the lamp so that upon pulling the trigger it is rst moved rearwardly of the barrel and is then projected forwardly of the barrel, contact means for connecting the source of current to the lamp, said contact means being operated by pulling the trigger to light the lamp during its forward movement.

8. A toy gun according to claim 7 including means for governing the forward speed of the lamp.

9. A toy gun comprising a barrel through which light is visible along its length, an electric lamp mounted for longitudinal movement in the barrel, a source of current for the lamp, spring means connected to the lamp for controlling its movement through the barrel, a trigger, means for connecting the spring means to the trigger so that as the trigger is pulled the spring means is rst stressed to pull the lamp rearwardly of the barrel and is then released to permit the spring means to propel the lamp forwardly of the barrel, contact means for connecting the source of current to the lamp, said contact means being operated by pulling the trigger to light the lamp during its forward movement.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 755,890 Laney Mar. 29, 1904 2,063,451 Lunoe Dec. 8, 1936 2,088,727 Smith Aug. 3, 1937 2,644,936 Johnson July 7, 1953 

